Woensdrecht to oversee maintenance logistics for Joint Strike Fighters

The global market for aerospace and defense represents one of the world’s largest markets in terms of size, scope and revenue.

22 March 2018

The global market for aerospace and defense represents one of the world’s largest markets in terms of size, scope and revenue. An important part of this market is the maintenance performed on aircrafts, and Brabant offers excellent opportunities for this maintenance.

The F-16 fighter aircraft will soon be replaced by the Joint Strike Fighter (F-35). With the first F-35s flying in Dutch skies next year, Brabant-based OneLogistics is meeting the challenges posed by maintenance logistics for the aircraft. In due course, 37 Joint Strike Fighters will be based in the Netherlands, with another 500 aircraft in the EU and Israel. JSF maintenance will be spread across a number of EU countries, with logistics becoming increasingly complex as a result.

Complex interactions
One of the major problems is that the EU has, logistically, greater challenges than many Americans may realize.

Americans think that, just like in the US, it’s easy to drive across the continent without a single stopping point, but in Europe you have to deal with customs, permits, VAT and transport rules. All that means we need a different logistical approach.

Rene de Koning - OneLogistics - Booming Brabant TV

The Woensdrecht Air Base serves as the operational nerve center for the company. “The facilities also include a high-tech and a well-oiled warehouse”, says De Koning. Operating out of Hoogerheide, Brabant, the company makes sure that every part gets to wherever it is needed. “Thanks to the Port of Rotterdam, Schiphol Airport and West Brabant, the Netherlands is a full-fledged logistics nation. We are responsible for getting parts to or repairing them in any location in Europe, using both track & tracing and other systems to monitor the whole process.”

Other industries
At present the aircraft maintenance logistics are still manageable. “Currently there are only around 10 JSFs in European skies, but ultimately there will be some 500. If you can perform logistics for the US military, you can do anything”, De Koning told the Booming Brabant TV show. “We can use the facilities to serve any other industry.” The company was instructed to ensure that they could diversify, and that is exactly what has happened.

Source: Omroep Brabant